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NEW DELHI: Fishing nets, ropes, bags, plastic cups, and gloves are just some of the items that have been found in the stomach of a sperm whale stranded on a beach. The whale was found dead on the Isle of Harris, Scotland on Thursday by locals.

Experts from the Scottish Marine Animal Stranding Scheme , which investigates the deaths of whales and dolphins, said there was no evidence that the 100kg “litter ball” had “impacted or obstructed the intestines”. But they said the discovery of so much plastic pollution in its stomach was “nonetheless horrific”, and most likely “compromised digestion”.

“This amount of plastic serves to demonstrate the hazards that marine and lost or discarded fishing gear can cause to marine life,” the group added. The number of cetaceans being stranded on UK shores has risen, with 1,000 whales, dolphins, and porpoises found washed up in 2017 alone.

PITHORAGARH: Of the total 19,600 endangered species of and fauna in the country, the Himalayan region is home to 133 which are passing through a critical phase due to changing weather patterns and massive deforestation, scientists warned at a seminar in Almora on Wednesday.

“Scientists maintained that if the global warming trends in the Himalayan region remain as they are, several flora species of fungus, algae and lichen besides fauna species like bharal, snow leopards and musk deer will disappear from Himalayan region,” R S Rawal, Director of G B Pant National Institute of Environment and Sustainable Development that hosted the event said.

Massive deforestation, rampant conversion of agricultural land for construction purposes and the ever growing concrete jungle were held by scientists as the principal culprits for the changing weather patterns in the region, he said.

Flora and fauna in the 2,400 km long Himalayan range are passing through a critical phase as global warming is affecting the regional eco system most, he said.

Arun Kumar, Director of Dehradun-based Dolphin Institute said that the depleting number of bharal and musk deer in their habitats in the Himalayan region is a problem on which the new researchers in the field need to focus.

Scientists from several institutes across the country took part in the seminar including Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, Nature Conservation Foundation, Pantnagar University, Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development, Kathmandu (Nepal), IIT Roorkee, Central Agricultural University and BSIP Lucknow.

Making a special reference to the research paper presented by P R Ojaswai, Director of Dehradun based Indian institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Rawal said Ojaswai claimed that global warming has started affecting crops in the region as an increase of one degree in temperature has lead to a decrease in wheat production ranging between 15 to 20 per cent.

Ojaswai also warned that the one degree increase will cause paddy crops production to decrease by 6 per cent while crops like maize will disappear from the fields, Rawal said.

SAMBHAR: Thousands of migratory birds of about ten species were found dead around Sambhar Lake, the country’s largest inland saltwater lake near Jaipur, sending shock waves among locals and authorities.

Officials said they suspect water contamination as one of the reasons for the deaths but were awaiting viscera test reports. Though the official toll was 1,500, locals claimed the number of dead birds could be as high as 5,000.

“We have never seen anything like that. Over 5,000 birds died mysteriously all over the place,” 25-year-old Abhinav Vaishnav, a local bird-watcher, told PTI.

When Vaishanav went on a stroll along the edge of the lake on Sunday, he took the hundreds of dark lumps strewn across the marshy land for cow dung. But it didn’t take him and his fellow bird watchers Kishan Meena and Pavan Modi to realise the lumps were bodies of hundreds of lifeless migratory birds.

Carcasses of hundreds of dead birds including plovers, common coot, black winged stilt, northern shovelers, ruddy shelduck, and pied avocet were scattered on the edge of 12-13 km of the catchment area of the lake, leading to a possible number of over 5,000, they said.

Forest ranger Rajendra Jakhar said a possible reason could be the hailstorm that hit the area a few days back.“We estimate about 1,500 birds of about 10 species have died. We are also looking at other possibilities like toxicity of the water, bacterial or viral infection,” he said.

A medical team from Jaipur has collected a few carcasses and water samples are being sent to Bhopal for further examination.

Ashok Rao, a veterinary doctor and part of the team, said that while the exact reason for the deaths was uncertain, he ruled out the possibility of bird flu.

“At initial examination we did not find any sort of secretion from the birds, which is a giveaway in the cases of bird flu,” he said.

“Their could be some sort of contamination in the water. The increased salinity of the water could also be another reason, as it increases salt concentration in the blood, which can further lead to slow blood flow and the internal organs like the brain may stop working,” Ujjwal said.

The lake is also a favourite of flamingos, stilts, stints, garganey, gulls and a number of other species of birds.

Jakhar informed that the lake every year hosts approximately 2-3 lakh birds, which include about 50,000 flamingos and 1,00,000 waders.

The strange episode has left villagers and people of the forest department baffled for the lack of a sensible explanation.“I have never seen such a thing in 40 years of my service in the forest department. First I thought it could be because of the hail, but that occurs every year. There is no chemical waste in this water either,” said Ramesh Chandra Daroga, a local working with the forest department.

Ashok Sharma, joint director, State Disease Diagnostic Centre, said that once the reason was ascertained further steps will be taken.

“We don’t think it is a case of infection, but if it turns out to be the case we will take further steps to make sure it doesn’t spread,” he assured.

Meanwhile, the carcasses were collected in a tractor-trolley and buried in a ditch. A total of 669 dead birds were buried while hundreds lay strewn around as the forest staff hesitated to venture into the slippery muddy areas.

This is the second such incident in the state within a week. Last Thursday, 37 demoiselle cranes were found dead in Jodhpur’s Khinchan area. Their viscera too have been sent for investigation and reports are awaited.

You can donate to any organization that is honestly taking initiatives and active in different projects such as conservation, orphanage, wildlife, health, child education, child labor, women empowerment, etc. It is essential to investigate the organization whether it is genuine or not before donating or joining. You can work as a volunteer with the organization under their fundraising campaigns. There are different ways of raising funds, by targeting corporates, schools, colleges, colony, family, and friends.

Always keep in mind that, many a little, make a mickle. Even small-small effort counts and no amount is small.

Organizations often get lost when they have to start planning to raise funds for their projects and programs. But funding may not be immediately available for them to grab it. Help them to raise funds by below efforts:

• Generate funds by organizing some event • Encourage workplace • Family functions – make donations at weddings, birthdays, anniversaries, etc. • Approach corporates • Recruit more members and assign responsibilities • By selling products for NGO’s • By buying products from NGO’s • By referring and promoting products to friends and family

Forest staff on the frontlines of conservation are the shield to protect the natural and cultural treasures of any nation. They work nonstop to protect threatened species like tigers, elephants, and rhinos, which are targeted by poachers for the illegal wildlife trade.

Please, help them as you can, which helps frontline staff to get the equipment, training, resources, and infrastructure they need to fight with the wildlife crime.

Forest guards live and die, to protect wildlife and natural wealth. So many forest guards daily fight with poachers and lost their lives, they are also someone’s son, brother, husband, and father. Forest guards, stay in wild for months without seeing their families to protect wildlife only.

HOW WE CAN HELP AND CONTRIBUTE TO FOREST GUARD’S:

• Invite your friends and family to join in supporting rangers • Share forest guard’s life by posting videos, photos and writing blogs on to your favorite social network • Send them a thank you card • Write some good feedback in the guest book • Talk to them and praise their efforts to save the wildlife • Gift them a life insurance/health insurance as they always live in danger • Education and support for forest staff families and children • Wildlife Protection Act training to forest guards • Distribution of books related to wildlife, wildlife protection act, flora and fauna, which help forest staff and other people to help, save and understand wildlife • Donate funds in forest guard welfare fund • Donation of medicines and medical equipment • Donation of Cameras, Spycams, Recording systems to fight against poaching • Donation of vehicles and mobile ambulances for rescue operations • Kit distribution to the Forest staff for their day to day needs when forest staff is on patrol. (Kit includes Bag, Water Bottle, Torch with Batteries, Rain Coat, Rain Boot, Jacket, Cap, T-Shit/Shirt, Jungle Map, Navigator, and other necessary equipment)

Would you like to stay at a place filled with dirt and waste? No, you can’t, even no one can live in such places.

We love the place we live and keep it always neat and clean. How many of us think about keeping cleanliness outside our living place? We love our city, our state and our country with our hearts. But that love is in our heart only, each and every inch of our streets, city, state, and country are so dirty? Our transportation, hospitals, bus stations, railway stations, and all public places are very dirty and for that responsibility is ours only.

THERE CAN BE MANY HABITS WHICH CAN HELP US TO KEEP OUR CITY CLEAN:

• Always use dustbins for garbage and waste • Always use public toilets • Do not write on monuments wall • Do not cut trees, plant trees • Do not split into streets and roads • Make people aware of keeping our city clean through some campaigns and activities • Don’t throw any wrapper, paper or anything else on the road while traveling • Avoid smoking, and chewing of Tobacco in public places • Avoid the use of plastic bags • Spread awareness to keep our city clean

THERE ARE MANY ADVANTAGES FOR KEEPING OUR CITY CLEAN AND GREEN. LET’S KNOW WHY WE SHOULD KEEP OUR CITY CLEAN:

• Always use dustbins for garbage and waste • Tourists only attract to clean and beautiful places. Which helps increases the economy of the country • Clean and hygienic places keep us healthy and fit and provide us with a longer life • Clean and hygienic places keep us away from so many diseases • Avoid throwing waste products in public places to save our environment and preserve it • Do not destroy natural resources, keep it safe for future generations • Clean cities can attract companies which can help locals in getting more employment

We can make a big difference by following these steps to make our country even more beautiful. We can drive others to fall in love with the cleanliness, purity, and beauty of our country and that day we will feel very proud of ourselves.

Today, we demand plastic bags with every purchase and we cannot do without them, because, it has been a long time since we started using plastic bags. Each time we bring home a plastic bag, we may not be aware that we are carrying a killer with us.

Disposable plastic bags don’t only increase the amount of waste we produce, they also endanger animals that can get snared in them and suffocate. Every year, lakhs of whales, seals, turtles and other marine animals are killed by plastic bags. These plastic bags were probably used for a short while but they take hundreds of years to break down.

Many countries have taken action to discourage the use of plastic bags. Some of these have rallied to imposed taxes or ban them altogether. Countries that have said no to plastic bags include Australia, Ireland, South Africa, Taiwan, India, and Bangladesh. That is really nice!

PLEASE TAKE CARE NEXT TIME WHEN YOU SHOP:

• Use your own reusable bags • Decline bags for small purchases • Ask people to avoid double-bagging

India is having countless varieties like cultural, traditional, historical, heritage, wildlife, adventures and mysterious destinations for tourists. India’s rich tradition of heritage has formed wonderful architectural flairs, temple cities and towns with other fascinating glorious monuments. India’s Hills and mountains offer some of the finest sites in the world to chill out and revitalize the mind, body, and soul. The vast coastline offers an enthralling experience of beach tourism. So in a true sense, India offers the dynamic capacities of ‘GLORIOUS INDIA’ heaven for all kinds of tourists.

Indian tourism is vast and diverse, it requires professionally expert publics to develop, promote, plan and advertise the tourism resources in the global competitive market. Tourism and education are the main concerns of most of the developed nations in the world. Emerging countries and low developed countries also planning for their tourism in the knowledge-based society. Managerial efficiencies and effectiveness are the need of the hour in modern tourism to cater to the needs of experienced, enriched and IT-based tourist communities. Therefore, quality education, industry-institute partnership, collaboration with consultants, a rethinking vocational education, higher education, research, and training in the field have to incorporate for the smooth functioning of the tourism industry.

Tourism is a major social and economic reflection of a country, it is essential for peace and harmony, social and economic development, entrepreneurship and in generating employment. It is also an important activity for actual interaction, social uplift of the lower class and also environmental conservation through eco and sustainable Tourism. Indian tourism resources have become one of the major attractions to the international tourist community on a big scale. The success of tourism seriously depends upon the effective and proficient manpower. Proper training and education can only provide skillful professionals in emerging fields like tourism. Tourism is a new and developing field and needs more awareness of the importance & positive impacts of tourism.

DO’S Must dispose of all non-degradable litter such as empty bottles, tins, plastic bags in dustbins only Maintain the purity of holy sites, temples, and local cultures Cut noise pollution. Do not blare loud music or other equipment in nature resorts, and wildlife parks Cover campsite temporary toilets with mud or sand, after defecation Make temporary toilets 30 meters away from the water source Ask for prior permission before taking a photograph and respect people’s privacy while clicking

DON’TS Do not take away flora in the forms of cuttings, seeds or roots. It is illegal Do not use pollutants such as detergent, in streams or springs while washing and bathing Do not leave cigarettes butts or make open fires in the forests Do not consume aerated drinks, alcohol, drugs or any other intoxicant and throw bottles in the wild Do not tempt the locals, especially children by offering them foodstuff or sweets. Respect local traditions Plastics bags are non-biodegradable and unhealthy for the environment and must not use

Tree planting is an essential solution to tackle climate change, trees help us to breathe, absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and releasing oxygen that human beings need to survive. We also know that they play a critical role in managing clouds, wind, humidity, air quality, and rainfall.

Tree planting is quite faster and the best economical solution of controlling climate, pollution and increase the water resources.

Nearly half of the world’s forests have been lost and we’re cutting them down at greater rates each year to plant crops, graze cattle and generate income from timber and other tree products. We need to plant trees over maximum areas of the earth to fulfill the loss, we had in past years.

FACT’S ABOUT TREE PLANTATION:

• Trees absorb carbon dioxide and filter our air • Tree roots stabilize the soil, stop erosion • Trees improve water quality by slowing and filtering rainwater • Most of the people rely on wood as their main source of energy • Trees give us lots of things such as furniture, books, newspapers, houses, etc. • Trees low down air temperature and give us a cool breeze • Trees provide food, shade, and shelter to humans and wildlife. • Trees protect us from flooding. • Trees reduce noise pollution. • Trees beautify the landscape.

NEW DELHI: Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Prakash Javadekar on Monday said in the Rajya Sabha that tiger population in the country has increased by 750 in the last four years to 2,976.

Earlier, the country’s tiger count was 2,226, he said during the Question Hour in the Upper House.

“Now the tiger count is 2,976. We must be proud of our whole ecological system. Tigers have increased by 750 in last four years ,” Javadekar said in reply to a supplementary question.

He said lions, tigers, elephants and rhinos are India’s assets and if reports of any deaths from viruses surface, special investigations are conducted to ascertain facts.

In reply to another supplementary question, the Minister said the country’s Northeast has a peculiar problem of Jhum cultivation but has forest cover of over 75 per cent in all states.

Jhum cultivation is the process of growing crops by first clearing the land of trees and vegetation and burning them thereafter.

About the decline of the forest cover in certain areas there, he said there will be a new survey of 2019-20 by the end of this month.

The minister said that while a meeting of forest officials of the Northeast was convened, Himachal Pradesh has also framed an ambitious five-year plan to protect its forests.

Javadekar said the country’s geographical area of forest cover has increased by 17,374 sq km between assessments of 2007 and 2017.

“However, within the above ten year period, forest cover increased by 6,788 square km between assessments 2015 and 2017 itself,” he said.

The top three states which have increased the forest cover include West Bengal, undivided Andhra Pradesh and Kerala.

He said the total forest cover of the country, as per the current assessment, is 7.08 lakh sq km which is 21.54 per cent of the geographical area.

The tree cover of the country is estimated to be 93.81 sq km which is 2.85 per cent of the geogrpaphical area, he said.